Peppermint
New member
All this talk of rigs being cut away made me wonder. How often do you guys look at the rig? Either by dropping the mast or climbing.
Rig Inspection
- Thread starter Peppermint
- Start date
jamesjermain
Active member
I drop mast (keel stepped) every other winter and get spars and rig professionally inspected.
I check running rigging and scan the top of the mast with binoculars every day on a long passage. You should also change halyard tension once a day, even if sail trim doesn't demand it, to equalise waar at the masthead sheeve. At regular intervals (at least once a week) You should drop the main and genoa to check the condition of the shackle and the last foot or so of halyard.
Always keep an ear out for the tinkle of split pins hitting the deck and look in the scuppers for them too.
I check running rigging and scan the top of the mast with binoculars every day on a long passage. You should also change halyard tension once a day, even if sail trim doesn't demand it, to equalise waar at the masthead sheeve. At regular intervals (at least once a week) You should drop the main and genoa to check the condition of the shackle and the last foot or so of halyard.
Always keep an ear out for the tinkle of split pins hitting the deck and look in the scuppers for them too.
Scillypete
Well-known member
You can look all you like but unless you have x-ray vision like superman you aint gonna see whats going on inside things like the bottlescrews or other stainless parts.
My forestay parted back in April, the rigging screw sheared at the base of the furling gear. Before setting off I had been up the mast and we went round checking everything or so we thought.
To really check the rigging the mast needs to come down and items like roller furling gear need removing for a proper inspection.
IMHO
My forestay parted back in April, the rigging screw sheared at the base of the furling gear. Before setting off I had been up the mast and we went round checking everything or so we thought.
To really check the rigging the mast needs to come down and items like roller furling gear need removing for a proper inspection.
IMHO
T_S
New member
Which go's to proove although stainless is good at resisting salt water, thats all its got going for it (apart from kitchen cutlery) its crap as a tough reliable metal!
doris
Well-known member
Whenever in port with a bit of time to spare why not go up and have a check. Only takes half an hour to check everything, add this to what James says about passage making and you have done all you can.
Robin
Well-known member
We completely rerigged ours when we bought her as there was a visible strand gone in one cap shroud. After removing the mast, the rigging adjuster below and part of the Furlex gear was seen to have all threads stripped bar one and a half turns. Not only that but the pin in the lower toggle had a head smaller than the diameter of the hole in the toggle and could fall through. Discussion with previous owners showed that the forestay had been removed by the yard in Malta when the boat was put in the boatlift for relaunch, probably the toggle pin was lost and the adjuster thread stripped when the forestay was replaced. When we bought her she had just arrived almost non-stop from Malta to Lymington, just a couple of days stopover in Lisbon for a sail repair and I believe 2 gales on route.... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
mirabriani
New member
Scillypete, you are so right
I recently observed first hand, the remains of a fitting from the inside of a furling drum. It was almost completely eaten away. It really shook me I can tell you.
If this is typical, I would recomend regular inspection.
Regards Briani
I recently observed first hand, the remains of a fitting from the inside of a furling drum. It was almost completely eaten away. It really shook me I can tell you.
If this is typical, I would recomend regular inspection.
Regards Briani
ShipsWoofy
New member
I took my mast down last winter to fit my RADAR. A simple weekend or so we thought. Once down we found the forestay had almost completely opened at the top. Most of the pins up top had worn to a worrying state. A couple of the shackles used up top had seen better days and many of the rivets in the furler had lost their heads.
Scary was not the word, I had only fitted the mast in March 2002. We are far wiser now and I pull SWMBO up regularly for a scan, she takes a compact camera to photograph anything she is unsure about to explain better when she is back down.
Scary was not the word, I had only fitted the mast in March 2002. We are far wiser now and I pull SWMBO up regularly for a scan, she takes a compact camera to photograph anything she is unsure about to explain better when she is back down.
ShipsWoofy
New member
[ QUOTE ]
I drop mast (keel stepped) every other winter and get spars and rig professionally inspected.
[/ QUOTE ]
What does professionally inspected actually entail?
Do they take the mast away for testing, or does the inspector bring equipment on site.
Just interested as to what a professional looks for?
I drop mast (keel stepped) every other winter and get spars and rig professionally inspected.
[/ QUOTE ]
What does professionally inspected actually entail?
Do they take the mast away for testing, or does the inspector bring equipment on site.
Just interested as to what a professional looks for?
T_S
New member
I feel the problem here Woof is owners and adjusting their rigging far too tight. For instance when on a 'raft' and crossing other boats to get to shore I have noticed on many occaisions how tight rigging can be!
jerryat
Active member
Hi Peppermint,
My mast is dropped and stored under cover every lay-up, except when we're away cruising. The rigging is removed and stored at home along with all the 'string', which is temporarily replaced by mousing lines.
Ok, I'm far from being an expert, but doing this at least allows me to physically check every end, toggle, clevis and split pin, as well as the tube for any deformation or corrosion.
I particularly closely check the wire where it enters a fitting, 'cos we had the shock of our lives a few years ago in the Med. when a casual 'up the mast' check, showed a couple of broken wires on both the lowers. We carry pre-made spares for the lowers (and a length of spare wire with Norseman/Staloc terminals for other elements) so replacement was quick and easy, thank goodness.
We replace all the standing rigging at a maximum of eight years, not because of insurance requirements, but for sheer peace of mind when we're cruising away from home. The superceded stuff becomes the 'spares'.
Having the 'string' out allows it to be put in the washing machine with a soap powder and thoroughly cleaned. Keeps them amazingly soft and in incredible condition.
Yep, maybe we're a bit OTT, but we don't worry about the rig at all when things get nasty and we're hundreds of miles from help!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Cheers Jerry
My mast is dropped and stored under cover every lay-up, except when we're away cruising. The rigging is removed and stored at home along with all the 'string', which is temporarily replaced by mousing lines.
Ok, I'm far from being an expert, but doing this at least allows me to physically check every end, toggle, clevis and split pin, as well as the tube for any deformation or corrosion.
I particularly closely check the wire where it enters a fitting, 'cos we had the shock of our lives a few years ago in the Med. when a casual 'up the mast' check, showed a couple of broken wires on both the lowers. We carry pre-made spares for the lowers (and a length of spare wire with Norseman/Staloc terminals for other elements) so replacement was quick and easy, thank goodness.
We replace all the standing rigging at a maximum of eight years, not because of insurance requirements, but for sheer peace of mind when we're cruising away from home. The superceded stuff becomes the 'spares'.
Having the 'string' out allows it to be put in the washing machine with a soap powder and thoroughly cleaned. Keeps them amazingly soft and in incredible condition.
Yep, maybe we're a bit OTT, but we don't worry about the rig at all when things get nasty and we're hundreds of miles from help!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Cheers Jerry
Evadne
Active member
I have the mast dropped every time she comes ashore for the winter. Not only does this allow me to make sure the bottle screws are all greased and working, and to check all the shackles and pins but I believe it dramatically reduces wear compared with other boats around me that leave their masts up through the winter gales. I've never understood the logic of leaving the mast up while ashore.
I've replaced the rigging once but kept it the same i.e. swaged eyes shackled to tangs on the mast and U-bolts through the deck. No roller furling does simplify these things.
Apart from wear on the pins or loose wires at the swages, the next most obvious sign of problemsg is rust stains around the ferrules. Stainless steel is still just steel, and if it suffers corrosion in the presence of oxygen, it also rusts.
I've replaced the rigging once but kept it the same i.e. swaged eyes shackled to tangs on the mast and U-bolts through the deck. No roller furling does simplify these things.
Apart from wear on the pins or loose wires at the swages, the next most obvious sign of problemsg is rust stains around the ferrules. Stainless steel is still just steel, and if it suffers corrosion in the presence of oxygen, it also rusts.
fireball
New member
[ QUOTE ]
I've never understood the logic of leaving the mast up while ashore.
[/ QUOTE ]
These may not be good or complete ... but the reason for leaving masts up are:
1) It costs to have it raised and lowered
2) The cables at the foot may need to be cut and remade
3) A mast up gives a good lifting point for getting anything heavy into the boat
4) Its sometimes easier to thread new halyards with gravity to pull through a mousing weight
I suspect it is usually a combination of 1 and 2, 2 especially if your cables go through deck glands and so the plugs need to be removed - lots of hasstle ...
I've never understood the logic of leaving the mast up while ashore.
[/ QUOTE ]
These may not be good or complete ... but the reason for leaving masts up are:
1) It costs to have it raised and lowered
2) The cables at the foot may need to be cut and remade
3) A mast up gives a good lifting point for getting anything heavy into the boat
4) Its sometimes easier to thread new halyards with gravity to pull through a mousing weight
I suspect it is usually a combination of 1 and 2, 2 especially if your cables go through deck glands and so the plugs need to be removed - lots of hasstle ...
Robin
Well-known member
To which I would add:-
1. The potential for damage craning it out/back up
2. The potential for damage when down unless ALL the rigging, spreaders, aerials, wind instruments, lights are removed.
3. The potential for bits to vanish, like tricolour lights, even bulbs!
4. The potential for corrosion of the aluminium if the S/S rigging is left in contact with the mast in storage.
5. The need to retune the rig every time.
Our mast is 50ft and deck stepped. When we rerigged it took 2hrs in a big hired crane plus myself and 4 yard staff on deck to get it back up as the wind got up just as we started. Because of the angle the crane was working at, we had to remove the wind transducer and VHF aerial to avoid damaging them, then later one of the yardies refitted them whilst riding a bosun's chair suspended from the crane. Very stressful and certainly not something to contemplate twice per year!
1. The potential for damage craning it out/back up
2. The potential for damage when down unless ALL the rigging, spreaders, aerials, wind instruments, lights are removed.
3. The potential for bits to vanish, like tricolour lights, even bulbs!
4. The potential for corrosion of the aluminium if the S/S rigging is left in contact with the mast in storage.
5. The need to retune the rig every time.
Our mast is 50ft and deck stepped. When we rerigged it took 2hrs in a big hired crane plus myself and 4 yard staff on deck to get it back up as the wind got up just as we started. Because of the angle the crane was working at, we had to remove the wind transducer and VHF aerial to avoid damaging them, then later one of the yardies refitted them whilst riding a bosun's chair suspended from the crane. Very stressful and certainly not something to contemplate twice per year!
Cornishman
New member
I find all the replies here fascinating having been brought up on soft steel wires tensioned with deadeyes and hemp lanyards greased with tallow.
I have also sailed many thousands of miles with stainless steel and cannot agree that it is useless for rigging. It is strong, very strong (ever tried cutting it?), but it gives no indication when it's getting tired, unlike the older wires which would begin to 'waist' long before failure.
Careful and regular inspection of end fittings and adjusters is about all the amateur sailor can hope for, and these are the weak points in the system. I, too, would love to know what a professional inspector actually does for his probably high fee.
I have also sailed many thousands of miles with stainless steel and cannot agree that it is useless for rigging. It is strong, very strong (ever tried cutting it?), but it gives no indication when it's getting tired, unlike the older wires which would begin to 'waist' long before failure.
Careful and regular inspection of end fittings and adjusters is about all the amateur sailor can hope for, and these are the weak points in the system. I, too, would love to know what a professional inspector actually does for his probably high fee.
Evadne
Active member
I can appreciate those points, especially the point about threading things (wires in my case this year) without much assistance from gravity. Although I still think that if the mast came down while sailing it would cause more damage, unless the "yardies" are particularly sloppy... Also, before they got themselves a proper mobile crane that worked, our yard used to use a boom derrick that could only be used with the boat afloat. It reminded me of games of "conkers" as a lad sometimes.
Partly because of a lack of masthead instruments (vhf and triclour only) our mast is probably simpler to put up than others. And those with keel stepped masts have other problems.
But. When I am sitting on the boat ashore, propped up by several oversized logs and the wind is howling through the rigging of the boats around me, swaying their masts and clanking their rigging for four or six long months, I can't help feeling that the disadvantages still outweigh the benefits.
Partly because of a lack of masthead instruments (vhf and triclour only) our mast is probably simpler to put up than others. And those with keel stepped masts have other problems.
But. When I am sitting on the boat ashore, propped up by several oversized logs and the wind is howling through the rigging of the boats around me, swaying their masts and clanking their rigging for four or six long months, I can't help feeling that the disadvantages still outweigh the benefits.
jerryat
Active member
Good grief Robin, what an horrendous saga!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif My mast is only 43 feet, but is lifted up and into position, shrouds connected and crane clear in about 15-20 minutes MAX!! True, eveything, but everything, is removed from the mast when stored, so there is no (or at least very minimal) risk of damage - none so far after 17 years.
The shrouds and spreaders are the only things fitted before lifting, and eveything else is fitted afterwards, even though this means me nipping up to the masthead the fit the goodies that live there. Halyards are reeved using the mousing lines installed when the stuff was removed for storage/cleaning at lay-up.
Agree re the risk of s/s rigging against the mast damage, but this is also eliminated if the rigging has been removed. True, my boat is lifted, mast up/down by a friend with a private (friends only) yard, using his own crane, so maybe that's why we have very few problems, but surely the 'professional' yards can't be that bad ........ can they??!!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Cheers Jerry
The shrouds and spreaders are the only things fitted before lifting, and eveything else is fitted afterwards, even though this means me nipping up to the masthead the fit the goodies that live there. Halyards are reeved using the mousing lines installed when the stuff was removed for storage/cleaning at lay-up.
Agree re the risk of s/s rigging against the mast damage, but this is also eliminated if the rigging has been removed. True, my boat is lifted, mast up/down by a friend with a private (friends only) yard, using his own crane, so maybe that's why we have very few problems, but surely the 'professional' yards can't be that bad ........ can they??!!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Cheers Jerry
Ships_Cat
New member
Our mast hasn't been down since the boat was built 8-1/2 years ago.
In any event I don't think the boat has ever been out of the water long enough to get it down then back in again and to have had any useful time in between to do anything to the mast should we have done so.
I cannot imagine wanting to get it down and back in again every year /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif.
John
In any event I don't think the boat has ever been out of the water long enough to get it down then back in again and to have had any useful time in between to do anything to the mast should we have done so.
I cannot imagine wanting to get it down and back in again every year /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif.
John
tome
New member
Agree John
Our mast is 54 feet, keel stepped. With masthead lights, antennas, wind instruments and also radar there's a lot of disconnecting before the mast comes out. The rigging is all 10mm and I've seen more damage to masts and rig ashore than I've ever seen with them in place.
Craning the mast out and in twice a year is just asking for trouble.
Our mast is 54 feet, keel stepped. With masthead lights, antennas, wind instruments and also radar there's a lot of disconnecting before the mast comes out. The rigging is all 10mm and I've seen more damage to masts and rig ashore than I've ever seen with them in place.
Craning the mast out and in twice a year is just asking for trouble.
fireball
New member
Well - ours does come down, but then as we move it on its trailor underneath some low trees and overhead cables, we don't get too much choice - however, it does act as a superb support for the over winter cover. And it did mean I could fishout the birds nest that prevented a spinny boom topping lift from being threaded...
TBO, IMO, if your out of the water from Nov-Mar and dropping the mast isn't too much hassle, and you've got suitable supports then it is worth dropping ..
TBO, IMO, if your out of the water from Nov-Mar and dropping the mast isn't too much hassle, and you've got suitable supports then it is worth dropping ..
